Nobody can intimidate us —Edo Speaker

By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN —THE Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Zakawanu Garuba, yesterday vowed that the leadership of the House would not be cowed to succumb to any form of intimidation from any quarter in carrying out its legislative functions.

He said that as lawmakers, the House was expected to adhere strictly to due process and rule of law while taking resolutions, saying that the notion in some quarters that the House had refused to approve some bills, such as the screening of members of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBE) due to political affiliation, was misleading.

Garuba stated this when plenary was delayed for over three hours due to a solidarity visit by thousands of members of the National Association of Edo Students and some civil society groups, who commended the leadership of the House for insisting on due process in its legislative activities.

Addressing the crowd, Garuba said:   “I believe in rule of law. I believe that things must be properly done, that is why for a lawyer, he will tell you he would rather believe justice should be done even though heaven will fall.

“We may put our lives on the line in the cause of this but I certainly tell you we shall never be intimidated. I therefore wish to thank you and to assure you that we will continue to work in the best interest of the people of Edo state and will never, in anyway, be intimidated, be cowed or be frightened into doing what is wrong.

“We believe in the rule of law. We will ensure compliance with the rule of law and ensure good governance in Edo state.”